It is hard to argue that The Academy has not improved over the years as they have diversified their membership. What gets nominated for their annual best in film awards has also seen its average quality improve in tandem. Although familiar names — Guillermo del Toro, Chloe Zhao, Joseph Kosinski and Yorgos Lanthimos — return to the biggest races, their films elide what we have come to think of as standard Oscar bait. Leading the way with a record 16 nominations is Ryan Coogler’s starkly original Sinners. Not far behind with 13 is Paul Thomas Anderson’s sizzling One Battle After Another. I can quibble with a few nominations here and there but on balance its a great group. As always, we will be breaking down the flashy, above the line categories: All 4 Acting categories, Directing and Best Picture. We’ll also try to highlight as many films as possible so if your favorite “snub” was left out leave a comment below. 

​As a project this year we are taking a trip through time to revisit all of the Best Picture winners in history, Wings to Anora. Chicago is the seventy-fifth film in that series, to see all the other Best Picture reviews, click here.

As a project this year we are taking a trip through time to revisit all of the Best Picture winners in history, Wings to Anora. A Beautiful Mind is the seventy-fourth film in that series, to see all the other Best Picture reviews, click here.

**This review contains spoilers, if you would like not to be spoiled for a 24 year old film, please watch A Beautiful Mind first